Chapter Sixteen

The golden red leaves fell less frequently now, the gentle breeze blew no more. It was still, the world seemed frozen in an act of melancholy remembrance. The golden angel laid beneath the mourning tree seemed unaware of the surrounding world. Unaware of all but his depression. Unaware of the annoying braided baka about to pounce on him unsuspectingly.

So maybe Quatre wasn't as lost in his thoughts as he'd previously believed himself. He managed to evade Duo's attack and crack a small smile at the sight of the long-haired brunette crashing head-first into the tree.

"Ow! Quatre! You weren't supposed to move!" Duo glared at his faintly smiling friend. /At least I got him smiling,/ he muttered silently to himself, a bit sullen at his pain, but relieved that he had gotten at least this minute concession from the boy.

All too soon though, Quatre's smile faded and Duo sighed. "Quatre, you've barely spoke all week. Your depression is starting to get contagious. I had it for the first four days and now Hilde and Relena have deserted us."

Quatre frowned. "I know I've been depressed, but why were you so blue?" Quatre had more than an inkling suspicion, but wanted Duo to confirm it.

Duo looked at him, then glanced around nervously before gesturing Quatre in closer. "Okay, you have to promise not to say a word. You're the second person — well, technically the fourth — to know this, but that doesn't matter." Duo paused here dramatically, gathering his courage with a deep inhalation of air and steeling himself against his friend's possible reaction. "I'm going out with Heero."

"Oh." Quatre shrugged nonchalantly. "Is that all?"

Duo looked at his friend in amazement, not quite taking in his lack of reaction. "Is that all? "You say, 'is that all?'! Is that all *you* have to say? Where's the shock, the horror, the delight, the merriment and mocking laughter even? Where's the reaction?" Duo glared at his friend who couldn't hold his impassive expression any longer.

He burst out laughing. "Gomen, Duo, but I couldn't resist. You should have seen your indignation, the look on your face was priceless. You never let your emotions loose like this, you're always acting, it was too good an opportunity to let slide."

Duo humphed at his friend and crossed his arms, glaring at the chuckling blond boy. "Fine, laugh at me. I have just one thing to ask before I give you the silent treatment."

"Go on." Quatre's eyes were still twinkling with amusement.

"How the hell did you find out?"

"You said it yourself, I was the fourth person to know this. The third party to your secret blabbed."

Duo looked shocked and outraged. "How could he?! And I though that Trowa could keep his mouth shut — he usually does. That traitor!"

"You were going to tell me anyway, so why argue about how it happened?"

"It's the principle of the thing." Duo pouted, looking adorably kawaii leaning against the tree. Quatre smiled at the image and shuffled over, putting his arm around his friend.

"So why aren't you depressed any more? I'm right in assuming that Heero being suspended is the reason you were gloomy in the first place?"

"Yeah. I should probably amend what I said before about you being fourth. Heero's parents walked in on us making out on Sunday, so now Heero can't even see me after school all this week. I have to wait until next Monday to get a kiss."

Quatre looked worried. "Are they okay with his relationship with you?"

Duo shrugged off the question. "I don't think they care that I'm a guy. What they were pissed about was that Heero was supposed to be studying. They're really strict on that. Which is probably why he's so good at intelligent school stuff as well as sport."

Quatre smirked. "So now you can't see him."

"Right. Then I realised yesterday that it was pointless being upset when I could get angry and get revenge."

"Revenge on who?"

"On the one who got my boyfriend in trouble in the first place and caused his parents to be even stricter." Duo smirked evilly and Quatre grinned, with a similar evil glint to his eye.

Duo glanced over at the office window (which they had a perfect view into from their position beneath the tree) and counted down the seconds on his watch.

"Three … Two … and One."

The door to the office suddenly slammed open with a resounding *bang* and an irate teacher dragged a protesting Odin through the door and into the principal's office. The two boys smiled at each other as they continued hearing echoes of "But I didn't do anything!" even after the door had closed firmly behind the trouble-bound teen.

"What did you do?"

"Let's just say I had a little help with the idea and planning from someone ho wants to get a little revenge on that bastard too. Along with another evil little girl we all know and love." Just then, there was another loud bang from the office and Quatre looked over to see Midii being dragged like Odin to the principal's office. She wasn't protesting but did have a sulky look on her face. Quatre looked at Duo in amazement.

Duo merely smiled and waved to someone nearby. Quatre looked over to see Sally standing there, whistling innocently. She met Quatre's gaze for a second and smirked, then she walked away, the innocent expression back in place. "Why… what … how …?"

"Ah," Duo held up a hand. "'Tis better when you do not know. Never question a master magician about his tricks for they shall never be revealed. However, this amazing magical act does need a name, so from now on, this shall be known as 'the grand masterful magical incident of gum'." Dou grinned and waved his hand around with a flourish.

"'The grand masterful magical incident of gum'?" Quatre repeated sceptically. "Gum? Do I really want to know the reason behind the title, or what you were smoking when you came up with it?"

"No, Quat, you probably don't want to know. Just sit back and enjoy the results of Shinigami's master plans of revenge."

"*Plans*? You mean there will be more 'incidents'?" Quatre looked over at his friend, fearing and hoping both that it might be true.

"Just watch, my little Kitty-Kat. Just watch and enjoy."

And so they sat back against the tree and did so. Watched and enjoyed.

That is until the bell rang for the end of lunch and forced them to get up and go to class.

Duo decided to wait a bit with Quatre after school. Cathy's car had again broken down and this morning Iria suggested that she look for a new one. So they were currently being held up after class by their friends giving advice on the kind of car Cathy should buy.

Quatre was leaning against the tall fence separating the school from the parking lot, trying not to fall sleep where he stood. It was Friday after all, and he was quite exhausted from living through the last five days at school. Duo was chattering non stop still about whatever came to mind, not realising, or really caring that Quatre seemed to be in a daze and not paying attention to him.

Duo looked over at his once again melancholy friend and sighed. /What on earth is the matter with him? What can I do to lift him up from this? I thought that he was all right after lunch, but now he seems even more downcast than ever./

Suddenly someone approached him from behind and wrapped their arms around him in a familiar gesture. "Hey gorgeous," a husky voice intoned before the mouth those words came from started sucking on Duo's neck.

Had Duo not recognised the feel of those arms nor the sound of that voice (not to mention the delightful sensation those familiar lips caused), he would have freaked by now. But Heero's actions had Duo purring in pleasure.

"Aren't … aren't you not … supposed … to be … here?" Duo gasped out between purrs. Quatre looked over to see what his friends was talking about and blushed when he saw the sight. He politely turned his back and moved away from them a bit.

Heero grinned against Duo's neck and gave a chuckle that sent shivers down Duo's spine. "Kaasan wanted me to get milk, and I decided to go the long way round, taking a detour by the school, seeing how it's so close." He resumed his pleasant attack on Duo's throat. "Would you like to join me for a 'walk'?" Heero grinned.

Duo turned around in his arms and returned it. "Love to." Then he latched onto Heero's mouth to give him a hungry kiss. "I just … have to tell … Quat." Duo wasn't really thinking properly and managed to say this between passion filled kisses.

"Don't worry, Quatre won't mind you going, besides, we're probably not getting very far." Duo looked up from Heero's mouth to glance over at his friend, who was being approached by a familiar tall brunette.

"Right. Let's go then." Duo grabbed another short kiss and dragged Heero away from the schoolyard gate and behind a deserted classroom.

Quatre looked up to hear footsteps approaching from his other side, not from where Heero and Duo were currently 'engaged'. He looked up to see Trowa walking towards him. He didn't say anything until Trowa had stopped and leaned up against the fence beside him.

"Konichiwa."

Trowa winced slightly. "Hey." He glanced over at Quatre then looked away.

They stood in silence for a while.

"Trowa?"

"Hm?"

"I … I would like to …" Quatre looked away from the taller boy. This caused Trowa a bit of concern. It also set his heart pounding in fear.

"Quatre?"

"Gomen nasai, Trowa." Quatre looked up at the brunette with tears in his eyes. "I didn't mean to hurt you that morning … I was just … I …"

"Quatre" Trowa cut him off with a smile. "You apologise too much. You don't have to worry about offending me, I should have realised you were caught up in your memories. I shouldn't have gotten offended."

"But, Trowa, I —"

Trowa held up a hand. "No, I will not accept any more apologies. You will always have my forgiveness without asking."

Quatre smiled. "Arigato Trowa." They stood side by side in companionable silence before Quatre suddenly realised something.

"Trowa?"

"Hm?" Trowa looked down at his friend to see his forehead creased and a slight frown of confusion on his face.

"What exactly are you doing here?"

"You don't want me here?" Trowa grinned as Quatre hurriedly rushed to explain.

"Iie! I just meant that … well, aren't you meant to be at home or something?"

"I was, but my parents dropped me off at Heero's when they had to go out. They figured that there'd be a close watch on us, since he's in as much trouble as I."

Quatre smiled wryly. "Maybe not quite as much trouble."

Trowa smirked. "No, I'd imagine not. Anyway, Heero's mother sent us to the shops to buy a few things. She's not expecting us back for at least an hour."

"So what were you planning on doing?"

Trowa smiled at his friend. "I was going to stand here with you, if you find that acceptable."

Quatre graced him with one of his most brilliant smiles. "I would find that very acceptable indeed."

They decided to talk about inconsequential things. They avoided the subject of Heero and Duo and their sudden disappearance and decided to talk about what happened at school, the new gossip on the school ground and, most importantly, who won this morning's basketball match.

"It was terrible, there were so few players good enough to bother. It seemed that everyone was a bit dispirited by you and Heero not being there." Quatre was explaining what happened that morning.

"Do you really think it's because of us?"

"Of course, there's no one else worth watching out there." Quatre's eyes grew a bit dreamy. "You seem to just flow gracefully around the court, almost effortlessly. It's a though there's no obstacles in your way." Quatre suddenly realised what he was saying and who to and he blushed. "Unless you're playing against Heero, then it's a bit more like a battle of skill and grace."

Trowa caught the obvious cover up for Quatre's amusement and smiled. "I've never heard myself being described like that before."

"Really? Oh." Quatre was still red. "Well, that's how I see it. You seem like a divine being writhing your way through mortals. Like an angel almost."

Trowa looked at him seriously. Quatre was obviously embarrassed by what he was saying, but Trowa was touched. /Does he really see me like that? But I'm not the angel, he is. I can't ever compare to what he is, at least in my eyes. He's almost too heavenly to be real./ Trowa took Quatre's chin in his hand and gently turned his face towards him.

"Quatre," he breathed. His emerald orbs gazed into aqua depths. "You're the angel here, and I would give anything to just hold you close enough to believe I'm a part of you."

"But you are a part of me." Quatre brought his face closer. "A very important part that I would give to no one else."

Trowa leaned in. "And I would give anything to have you to be a part of me." So saying, he closed the gap between their lips, sliding his eyes gently closed and showing his love and passion for the fragile beauty within his embrace how much he truly wanted him with his kiss.

The angel held his beloved close and responded to the passion and warmth with his own. Together they stood in the gentle breeze, surrounded by the golden red leaves of autumn and displayed their love and emotion for the other wrapped in their arms so all the world could see.

Part of that world included their friends and family, four of whom were now walking toward them unsuspecting of the scene they will find.

"Ah!" Quatre and Trowa broke apart hastily, looking around to find the source of the scream. They both blushed when realisation that it was their sisters staring at them in wide eyed shock hit them. Obviously they had seen their intimate moment when they had finally decided to meet up with them. Catherine tried making a few sounds, while Iria just stared at them

"What was that yell?" Duo and Hero came running back into the car park, still slightly ruffled from their own intimate encounter, straightening rumpled clothes and hair. "What happened?" Duo could only see the two shocked girls and the furiously blushing boys. "What the hell is going on?"

Catherine and Iria finally managed to snap out of whatever daze they were in. The four boys grew even more confused when they suddenly looked like they were going to cry. "I can't believe we missed it!" Catherine wailed and sobbed onto Iria's shoulder. Iria patted her back dejectedly.

"I know," she replied with a similar upset catch to her voice. "It's tragic."

"What on earth are you going on about?" Duo was obviously upset that his make out time with Heero had been cut into for some form of stupid strange girly antics. "What did you miss?"

Catherine ignored him and removed her head from her friend's shoulder to walk up to her brother. He backed away a few steps, unsure of her intent. She put her hands on her hips and just stared at him.

"I ... uh ... we were just ..." Trowa stuttered and fumbled for the words, surprising all of them with his lack of composure. Catherine was the only one who ever made him like this, she was the only one he really wanted to please so badly enough to get nervous of.

Catherine merely looked at him coolly. "I know perfectly well what you were doing, that's not the issue here." She suddenly looked distraught. "You couldn't have waited for like three more seconds, until we arrived here to see it. Trowa, do you realise how long we've been waiting for something like this to happen and you go and make it happen when we're not there! I'm glad you finally got all the hints and managed to work yourself out, but we should have been there to see it." With her tirade over Catherine put a hand to her brow and sighed. "I'll be in the car. We'll have words about this later Trowa."

Iria brushed past them, staring at her brother as she did so. Quatre gulped. "Don't think you're going to get out of a talking to either, Quatre," Iria warned. "I'm just a upset as Cathy." She looked over at Duo and Heero, still looking bemused. "I'll give you two a ride too if you want." Then she walked over to the car also.

"We're in so much trouble," Quatre breathed with a hint of nerves showing in his voice.

"Yeah," Trowa agreed. Duo and Heero walked over to them.

"What was that all about? What on earth were they talking about? What did they mean waiting for this to happen? What to happen? What the hell is going on here? And why am I always the last one to know?" Duo glared at them with an intensity that rivaled their sisters'.

Quatre scratched at the back of his head and offered them a weak, nervous smile. "Uh ... well ... you see ..." He looked over at Trowa for help, but it seemed the brunette was blushing and having a hard time trying to find words of his own. "Uh ..."

Heero suddenly smiled knowingly. "I understand. Duo, get in the car."

"What? Heero? What do you understand? What do you know? I wanna know too? Heero? Hee-chan? Heero! Tell me!" Heero started bustling the confused and frustrated Duo towards the car. "And who said you could order me around like that! You've got some nerve Yuy—" He was cut off when Heero closed the door to the car, leaving only Trowa and Quatre outside.

They looked at each other with nervousness.

"So," Quatre started and glanced around.

"Yeah." Trowa didn't waver his gaze. He smiled suddenly and took Quatre's hand in his own. The blond boy looked a bit surprised and unsure of the move, but smiled back reassuringly. Trowa leaned in and gave Quatre a short but sweet kiss on his soft lips and led him towards the car again.

"Oh, now I get it!" Quatre and Trowa looked up at the rear car window to see Duo looking out at them and nodding in understanding. Heero was sitting next to him shaking his head and saying "baka" while Iria and Cathy were in the front sighing and murmuring "kawaii" with pink hearts in their eyes.

They newly acknowledged couple laughed at their reaction and walked hand in hand to the car, with all the happiness inside them radiating from their smiles.